What it's known for: Going fairly far outside of Boston and being an ~unofficial~ commuter rail of sorts. (It's true. I got to jury duty in Malden on the Orange Line.)

The pro: It runs fairly frequently and they finally installed signs that tell you when the next train is arriving. When you don't feel like waiting for the Green Line, there's a decent chance the Orange Line might be able to get you where you want to go too.

The con: If it's cold outside you're probably going to freeze your ass off at the outdoor stops (same goes for the Green Line).

What it's known for: Park Street. Which is pretty much the center of the universe in Boston. Or if you're heading towards Alewife you'll see some Hahvard kids.

The pro: Once you get to Park you can find your way pretty much anywhere. The trains run frequently too. Park Street is the hub of Boston. The best perk of all is the great street musicians that play at various stops on the Red Line (they know what's up).

The con: It's way too easy to get on a Braintree train when you meant to get on a Ashmont one.